MARK WILSON hopes Dundee United can take a leaf out of Celtic’s book – by grinding out results when other teams shut up shop.

Former Hoops star Wilson helped Jackie McNamara’s high-fliers overcome Ross County 1-0 last weekend to surge into second spot in the Premiership and continue their domestic purple patch.

United had to deal with the defensive-minded Staggies who shoved bodies behind the ball before Gary Mackay-Steven finally broke down their resistance with a 69th-minute winner.

And full-back Wilson, who spent six years at Parkhead, reckons the in-form Taysiders are now having to copy his old club’s example as rival teams try their utmost to stop their free-flowing play which has lit up the top flight this season.

Wilson said: “The fans maybe got a wee bit frustrated at the weekend but we can’t win every game by four goals, that’s just not possible.

“With the more wins we get other teams are going to play the way Ross County did last Saturday and try to contain us.

“It is frustrating but I am used to that having played for years at Celtic. Teams sit in and make it very difficult for you but you just have to remain patient. If you do that the goals will come.

“You’ve just got to keep at it. That’s what Celtic were so good at when I was there and the amount of late goals they’ve been scoring this season has been incredible.

“As games wear on all it takes is a slip from an opposition defender and the goal will come – as Celtic have consistently shown. It might turn out the same for us.

“It’s important that when you get the chance you put it away, which Gary Mackay-Steven did against Ross County.

“It’s a compliment that teams see you can score goals so they try to make life difficult for you but we’ve got to handle it.”

United head for Paisley today to take on St Mirren and Wilson knows another 1-0 win would go down a treat as they set their sights on securing that coveted second place in the table.

Wilson said: “If you’ve got any aspirations to finish second in the league then you’re going to have to grind out a few 1-0 wins.

“Over the past few weeks teams have been trying to play us at our own game.

“The attacking options we have now are devastating.

“But now they’re maybe starting to sit in a bit more and try to hit us on the break.

“We need to be wise to that as well which means we can’t afford to be gung-ho and leave ourselves open so that we get picked off, it’s a fine balance.”

Wilson returned to the starting line-up for the County clash and reckons gaffer McNamara is doing the right thing by freshening up his side in the middle of the festive period.

He said: “It’s great having a squad as big as this.

“The players realise the team can be chopped and changed a bit, especially at this time of the year when it’s a hectic period.

“It might be one in and one out because of the amount of games.

“St Mirren will be a tough game for us. I don’t think they were too good at the weekend but apart from that they’ve been doing OK.

“A lot of the teams around about us are winning so it’s making for an interesting league.”

Wilson’s form since returning to Tannadice for a second stint in August has been impressive and the ex-Scotland ace admits he wants to finalise a deal soon to remain long term on Tayside.

He said: “We’ve been talking for a few weeks now. I want to stay here and the club do as well.

“I think it’s just a case of getting these games out of the way first and then getting something sorted out.”